The landscape of how people conduct business shifted dramatically in the last year or so. In addition, many of your small business clients may not have overcome the pandemic’s challenges, meaning you’ve lost revenue as well. In the 2021 Deloitte Global Resilience Report, 60% of CEOS fear similar disruptions will continue and impact all types of businesses.

If you want to be one of the small business owners who come out on top of the challenges, here are some liabilities to consider this year. We’ll also talk about how to bulletproof your company against them.

1. Lack of Agility

If the pandemic taught business owners anything, it was the importance of being flexible and able to adapt at a moment’s notice. What makes some companies better able to shift focus than others?

Start with your purpose as a brand. Is it too specific? One example of brands changing what they did during the pandemic can be seen in local distilleries. Many stopped making alcohol and shifted to creating hand sanitizer to meet public need.

Train your employees from day one to come up with creative solutions. Give them the freedom to try new things. Then, when you’re faced with a situation where you must adapt, you’ll already have staff who think outside the box.

Prepare: Ask what areas you’re rigid in. How can you become more flexible? Are there any products or services that might suffer during a global crisis? What would you do instead?

2. Outdated Features

When business is slow, it’s easy to let things go, particularly with a brick-and-mortar location. You can lose a lot of customers simply by making a poor first impression. For example, your interior signage can draw people into your store or drive them away.

When you can’t afford a complete remodel, a fresh coat of paint or deep cleaning can help spruce things up.

Prepare: Look at your office through the eyes of your clients. Would you want to come inside? Does it look inviting? What about your online presence? Is your website current and covers modern trends?

3. Legal Liabilities

Every business has some typical legal liabilities. For example, an employee falls and gets hurt on some flooring that was sticking up. You can mitigate many of the risks associated with potential lawsuits by keeping your building in good repair.

You’ll also face litigation over issues you can’t foresee, such as damaging a business’ reputation through poor marketing efforts. No matter how protected you think you are, it’s always possible you’ll face legal action.

Prepare: Secure property insurance to cover slips, falls and other disasters. You can also tag an umbrella policy on most businesses to cover you for unknown issues. Talk to your insurance agent about what policy might work best for you.

4. Reputation Management

At some point in your business’s growth, you likely made a mistake or two. Perhaps Facebook and Google have multiple bad reviews listed for your company. Once your reputation tanks, it’s difficult to get it back. People may shy away from doing business with you out of fear the issues still exist.

Your first step is figuring out how others see your brand. Check out online reviews and poll your current customers. If you want honest feedback, allow for anonymous comments. Also, take the time to look back over your customer complaints. The issues people call about are usually a big indicator of where your problems lie.

Prepare: The only way to improve your brand image is via one customer at a time. Start with those who’ve left out of frustration. Call and have a candid conversation with them. Ask for their ideas on how to improve. Ask for another chance at no risk to them. For example, you create a marketing campaign and they only pay if they see results.

If you can turn a past critic into a raving fan, your reputation score will improve by leaps. Take the time to respond to negative online reviews so others can see the steps you’ve taken to fix issues.

5. Open Positions

A recent Bloomberg report looked at the issues many businesses have with finding qualified employees.  Around 42% of small businesses state they can’t fill open positions, and 91% said the many applicants were unqualified for the job.

A lack of staff creates lag times in finishing work. Since many marketing campaigns run on a tight schedule, a lack of qualified staff will either overload your current workers or cause projects to go unfinished.

Prepare: Don’t wait until you have an opening to look for the best candidates. Cultivate new leads by hiring interns and staying involved in the industry. If a person comes along who has skills and is a good match, figure out how to work them into your team. You can always expand sales when needed.

6. Security Issues

Cyberthreats grow nearly every year. Hackers get better at getting into systems and gaining access to your personal data. If you don’t take steps to mitigate the risk, you’ll wind up with unhappy customers or a website taken hostage by people wanting a payout.

With more people working remotely, there is even more risk of criminals gaining access through various entry points.

Prepare: Install the latest virus protection software on all machines used in the running of your marketing company. For those who work from home, either provide a computer or free antivirus software. Train employees how to spot phishing and other scams. Be proactive in protecting information.

Assess All Risks

The above six liabilities are common to marketing businesses. However, each company has unique challenges to overcome. Assess all the risks that might derail you from your goals for the next few years. How can you overcome those issues and keep your company on an upward trajectory?

This post was written by Eleanor Hecks for the Marketing Fundamentals Team. Eleanor Hecks is editor-in-chief at Designerly Magazine. She was the creative director at a digital marketing agency before becoming a full-time freelance designer. Eleanor lives in Philly with her husband and pup, Bear.

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The post 6 Liabilities That Could Hurt Your Marketing Business This Year appeared first on Marketing Fundamentals.

This video is called, What is Teachable University? By Mike Pitt. If you want to subscribe to our YouTube channel, you can . Mike Pitt is the Founder of Marketing Fundamentals Ltd, a B2B Content Marketing Agency in London.

This post may contain affiliate links, please read our disclosure for more info.

In this video, Mike Pitt discusses, What is Teachable University?

This video will be of interest to  affiliate marketers, business owners, B2B marketing managers, Content Marketing professionals, Social Media Managers and others who use messaging apps to conduct business.

Teachable University

Teachable University is a bundle of training courses that teach coaches, consultants and subject matter experts how to create a paid course. Once coaches and consultants have studied the course they will be in a great position to monetize their knowledge. This is very significant because monetizing your expertise via online courses is a solid strategy for scaling a services based business. The current global pandemic has meant that more people than usual are registering for online courses in order to learn new skills or change career. Is this you? Are you keen to monetize your knowledge? If so, you should definitely check out . Do you have experience as as course instructor on other platforms? If you do, you might want to

Take Action

Now is the time. Will you explore Teachable University now? Do you already have online courses? Let me know in the comments section below. Also, let me know if you would like my help.

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This video is called, How to Make Money with Sponsored Posts By Mike Pitt. If you want to subscribe to our YouTube channel, you can . Mike Pitt is the Founder of Marketing Fundamentals Ltd, a B2B Content Marketing Agency in London.

This post may contain affiliate links, please read our disclosure for more info.

In this video, Mike Pitt discusses, How to Make Money with Sponsored Posts. This video will be of interest to content creators, business owners, B2B marketing managers, Content Marketing professionals, Social Media Managers and others who use Social Media to promote their businesses.

Sponsored Posts

If you are a website owner there is an opportunity for you to earn additional revenue from your website. Most website owners in the B2B space use their websites as reference points for prospective leads and customers. Interested prospects visit their company website and some convert into recurring clients with a monthly retainer. However, there is a chance to earn additional revenue by including sponsored posts on your company blog.

How Do Sponsored Posts Work?

When you publish regularly on your company blog you will build up an audience for your content. There will be other companies who would also like to communicate with your audience because it is the same audience that they target. In this scenario, companies will pay you to publish a post on your blog, this is a sponsored post. In this sponsored post they will embed links to their website and / or goods and services. Some of your readers will click through and visit their website and /or sales pages.   In the video, I discuss how to increase sponsored post opportunities and the creation of a media kit. I also give examples of successful media kits.

Take Action

Would you like to make additional revenue from sponsored posts? Has this blog post opened your eyes to a new opportunity? Let me know that in the comments section below.

If you’ve liked this post you will also like the following posts:

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Is Steemit Dead? 

How to use Telegram for New Business – Part 1

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B2B Content Marketing Agency London

Marketing Fundamentals Ltd is a B2B Content Marketing Agency in London that creates Content and manages Social Media for Professional Services firms. We hope you find this information useful.

If you would like our help creating and executing a Content Marketing Plan for your business or organisation give us a call on +44 (0) 845 2264 247. You can also email us via mail@marketingfundamentals.com

On our YouTube channel you will find marketing advice, business advice & inspiration. Subscribe if you work in Marketing for Professional Services or are a business owner or solo-preneur trying to grow your business. New uploads on Tuesdays and Fridays.

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This is video number 366 and blog post number 561

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In the week that Americans celebrate Thanksgiving I wanted to take the opportunity to share this post originally published on my LinkedIn Page. You can view it here.

For the last few days I have been searching…

but I regret to inform you that I have failed in my search.

I was searching for the first person who took a chance on me and gave me my first permanent job in Marketing.

Months after my appointment I remember her telling me that she had fought for me. There were other candidates being considered.

I was filled with so much gratitude then as I still am now. To have someone believe* IN YOU is a wonderful feeling.

My plan was to thank her again via LinkedIn.

UPDATE: This afternoon I have found her, here on linkedIn, courtesy of advanced search. The person I want to say thank you too is Sharon Wheeler  https://lnkd.in/d3rMeRz – Picture above.

Thank you Sharon Wheeler!

Who was the first person to believe in you professionally? If possible, name them in your comments below.

So often we are pushing forwards chasing the next goal or objective. We don’t always get time to reflect and express our gratitude. Have a great day everyone!

If you have liked this post you will probably enjoy, How to Start a Digital Marketing Career.

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Marketing Fundamentals Ltd is a B2B Content Marketing Agency in London that creates Content and manages Social Media for Professional Services firms. We hope you find this information useful.

If you would like our help creating and executing a Content Marketing Plan for your business or organisation give us a call on +44 (0) 845 2264 247. You can also email us via mail@marketingfundamentals.com

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* Someone other than family and friends.

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This is blog post post number 429

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Why oh why do we do this to ourselves! As if the 9 to 5 grind wasn’t enough, we throw in a bunch of unnecessary meetings, and then fill them with quite literally the worst phrases the English language can come up with, because apparently, we live for the pain. We cannot stop ourselves using business jargon.

Business Jargon

It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned veteran or a new graduate, there are some business sayings that will leave you wondering what the hell was actually just said and why people can’t just speak normally. For example:

Blue sky thinking: as opposed to green or pink sky thinking, which is an absolutely different thing. What this means nobody has ever actually been able to determine, however a team of researchers are still working on it. We’ll update you as soon as we have more information.

Low hanging fruit: can anyone actually ever use this phrase without making you think of fruit? And exactly what fruit does hang low, and have you ever picked it before? We’ve quite literally never seen a tree or a bush or a shrub with low hanging fruit. Apart from blackberries. Yeah maybe blackberries.

Not enough bandwidth: why can’t you just say you’re busy Steve?! There is no other time in your life anyone uses this phrase. When your mum asks if you can come around and help set up for your grandad’s party, at no point do you reply, ‘sorry mum, I just don’t have the bandwidth’. Because it sounds ridiculous that’s why.

You can’t fit a square peg in a round hole: have you ever tried to put a square peg in a round hole? No, exactly! And who has a square peg anyway.

A pedigree candidate: again, in no other situation in your life do you use pedigree in regard to people. You only ever really use it when you’re looking for a new pet.

The Worst Business Jargon

Open the kimono: if someone says this, you are in under no terms obligated to open any part of your clothing whatsoever. Keep everything snuggly tight and closed. No one needs to see an open kimono.

Think outside the box: is there anything more annoying than when someone asks you to do this, because naturally, all you can think of is a box. Big ones, little ones, colourful ones. And then you start thinking you need to come up with some crazy ideas and you spend your night brainstorming the weirdest ideas and that my friends, is a dangerous rabbit hole to fall down.

How much runaway do they have: in the world of recruitment this often means, how old is the candidate. But alas, you’re now sitting daydreaming about planes and holidays, exotic destinations and remote beaches, which incidentally is more fun than trying to guess the age of your candidate, but inevitably not what you’re supposed to be doing.

Holistic: this one is a real classic, and if you listen carefully, you can hear it being whispered in office across the land. It basically rose to fame some years ago and is stubbornly clinging on like a Big Brother contestant, refusing to go anywhere when you know it really should.

Leverage: the most polite way of trying to determine how much room you have to play around before you need to seriously start doing anything.

By close of play: no one is playing here, let’s be real. Just say the end of the day like a normal person. Using the verb play to describe your working day, won’t trick you into believing you’re having a good time. It’s a ruse.

We could carry this list on all day, because apparently, it’s never ending, but we wouldn’t do that to you.

About Access Recruitment

Access helps the UK’s top recruitment agencies to simplify the everyday running of their business to improve productivity, control costs and enable growth. Access recruitment software brings together best-of-breed products onto one single platform to make a difference to the entire recruitment process – from sourcing the right candidate, paying staff, billing clients and complying with confidence.

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If you would like our help creating and executing a Content Marketing Plan for your business or organisation give us a call on +44 (0) 845 2264 247. You can also email us via mail@marketingfundamentals.com

On our YouTube channel you will find marketing advice, business advice & inspiration. Subscribe if you work in Marketing for Professional Services or are a business owner or solo-preneur trying to grow your business. New uploads on Wednesdays.

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This is blog post post number 414.

The post The Worst Business Jargon appeared first on Marketing Fundamentals.

B2B – How Do You Get More Referrals? By Mike Pitt. This is video No. 132 and blog post 322. Mike Pitt is the Founder of Marketing Fundamentals Ltd. Marketing Fundamentals Ltd is a B2B Content Marketing Agency in London. In this tutorial Mike Pitt outlines a Three step strategy to deliver more referrals into your B2B business.

Getting Referrals for Your B2B Business

Referrals are a wonderful source of new business for B2B businesses. Watch the embedded video and Mike will take you through a three step plan to generate more referrals for your business which will lead to more business.

B2B Content Marketing Agency London

Marketing Fundamentals Ltd is a B2B Content Marketing Agency in London that creates Content and manages Social Media for Professional Services firms.

If you would like our help creating and executing a Content Marketing Plan for your business or organisation give us a call on +44 (0) 845 2264 247. You can also email us via mail@marketingfundamentals.com

On our YouTube channel you will find marketing advice, business advice & inspiration. Subscribe if you work in Marketing for Professional Services or are a business owner or solo-preneur trying to grow your business. New uploads on Wednesdays.

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This is video No. 133 and blog post 322.

The post B2B – How Do You Get More Referrals? appeared first on Marketing Fundamentals.

This is Video No. 124 and blog post number 309.

Digital Marketing Intern London – Karla’s Vlog – Week 12 by Mike Pitt. This is the last of the series for now. Karla McDougall is a Digital Marketing Intern at Marketing Fundamentals Ltd. Marketing Fundamentals Ltd is a B2B Content Marketing Agency in London. Mike Pitt is the Founder of Marketing Fundamentals Ltd. In Week 12 Episode 12 Karla gives her thoughts on her twelfth week at Marketing Fundamentals Ltd and talks about her highlight of the week.

B2B Content Marketing Agency London

Marketing Fundamentals Ltd is a B2B Content Marketing Agency in London that creates Content and manages Social Media for Professional Services firms.

If you would like our help creating and executing a Content Marketing Plan for your business or organisation give us a call on +44 (0) 845 2264 247. You can also email us via mail@marketingfundamentals.com

On our YouTube channel you will find marketing advice, business advice & inspiration. Subscribe if you work in Marketing for Professional Services or are a business owner or solo-preneur trying to grow your business. New uploads on Wednesdays.

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This is blog post number 309.

The post Digital Marketing Intern London – Karla’s Vlog – Week 12 appeared first on Marketing Fundamentals.

This is Video No. 123 and blog post number 307.

Digital Marketing Intern London – Karla’s Vlog – Week 11 by Mike Pitt. This is a new series. Karla McDougall is a Digital Marketing Intern at Marketing Fundamentals Ltd. Marketing Fundamentals Ltd is a B2B Content Marketing Agency in London. Mike Pitt is the Founder of Marketing Fundamentals Ltd. In Week 11 Episode 11 Karla gives her thoughts on her eleventh week at Marketing Fundamentals Ltd and talks about her highlight of the week.

B2B Content Marketing Agency London

Marketing Fundamentals Ltd is a B2B Content Marketing Agency in London that creates Content and manages Social Media for Professional Services firms.

If you would like our help creating and executing a Content Marketing Plan for your business or organisation give us a call on +44 (0) 845 2264 247. You can also email us via mail@marketingfundamentals.com

On our YouTube channel you will find marketing advice, business advice & inspiration. Subscribe if you work in Marketing for Professional Services or are a business owner or solo-preneur trying to grow your business. New uploads on Wednesdays.

Subscribe to our 
Follow us on LinkedIn:
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Thanks for reading and watching!

Best regards,

Marketing Fundamentals Team

This is blog post number 307.

The post Digital Marketing Intern London – Karla’s Vlog – Week 11 appeared first on Marketing Fundamentals.

This post may contain affiliate links please read our disclosure for more info.

This is Video No. 122 and blog post 306. Quotes for Life – 10. Teamwork by Mike Pitt. In this new series Mike Pitt, Founder of Marketing Fundamentals Ltd recites his favourite quotes and explains the what the impact of the quote has been on his life. The format is therefore, here’s the quote and what does / did it mean to Mike personally.

Teamwork

The quote featured in this episode is from Margaret Carty; Margaret is a writer from the United States. She authored William Broughton and the Kennedy Connection, which was published in 1987.

If you have liked this post you will like, Quotes for Life 15. – Questions – Tony Robbins

Also, Quotes For Life 14. – Excuses – Jim Rohn

Finally, please also read, Quotes for Life – 13. Don’t Wait – Napoleon Hill

B2B Content Marketing Agency London

Marketing Fundamentals Ltd is a B2B Content Marketing Agency in London that creates Content and uses Social Media to generates leads and prospects for professional services firms. Mike Pitt is the Founder of Marketing Fundamentals Ltd.

If you would like our help creating and executing a Content Marketing Plan for your business or organisation give us a call on +44 (0) 845 2264 247. You can also email us via mail@marketingfundamentals.com

On our YouTube channel you will find marketing advice, business advice & inspiration. Subscribe if you are a business owner, marketing professional or entrepreneur trying to grow your business. New uploads on Wednesdays.

Thanks for reading and watching!

Best regards,

Marketing Fundamentals Team

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The post Quotes for Life. 10 – Teamwork – Margaret Carty appeared first on Marketing Fundamentals.

This is Video No. 120 and blog post number 303.

This post may contain affiliate links please read our disclosure for more info.

Digital Marketing Intern London – Karla’s Vlog – Week 10 by Mike Pitt. This is a new series. Karla McDougall is a Digital Marketing Intern at Marketing Fundamentals Ltd. Marketing Fundamentals Ltd is a B2B Content Marketing Agency in London. Mike Pitt is the Founder of Marketing Fundamentals Ltd.

Digital Marketing Intern

In Episode 10, Karla gives her thoughts on her tenth week at Marketing Fundamentals Ltd and talks about her highlight of the week.

B2B Content Marketing Agency London

Marketing Fundamentals Ltd is a B2B Content Marketing Agency in London that creates Content and manages Social Media for Professional Services firms.

If you would like our help creating and executing a Content Marketing Plan for your business or organisation give us a call on +44 (0) 845 2264 247. You can also email us via mail@marketingfundamentals.com

On our YouTube channel you will find marketing advice, business advice & inspiration. Subscribe if you work in Marketing for Professional Services or are a business owner or solo-preneur trying to grow your business. New uploads on Wednesdays.

Subscribe to our 
Follow us on LinkedIn:
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Thanks for reading and watching!

Best regards,

Marketing Fundamentals Team

Online courses:

How to TurboCharge Your Business with a Blog
Meet Edgar Social Media Management
TurboCharge Your Twitter Presence
Quora For Business

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This is blog post number 303.

The post Digital Marketing Intern London – Karla’s Vlog – Week 10 appeared first on Marketing Fundamentals.